Title:

Introductions to Child Soldiers

Goal:

Part II of the unit is when students start to deep dive into the global issue. They will use the information that they learn in the is class during the final simulation. It will help them write paragraph one of their position paper.
  • Guiding Questions:
    • What are child soldiers?
    • Why are child soldiers a global issue? (this is a problem facing many countries all over the world)
    • What actions have the international community tried to take to address child soldiers?

Content Objective:

Students will be define what child soldier, list some of the challenges that they face, and be able to explain why child soldiers are a global issue.

Language Objective:

TBD depending on final agenda, see this article for support in writing language objectives.

Vocabulary:

Recruitment
Demobilization
Combattant
Reintegration

SEI Strategy:

Help students capture their understanding of the concept of child soldiers in a graphic organizer. Consider a concept map or a Frayer Model.


Suggested Agenda:


  1. Introduction to Child Soldiers as an International Issue: Use the material from the Red Cross to introduce the issue of Child Soldiers: http://www.redcross.org/humanityinwar/module-2c-focus-on-child-soldiers (if you click on the resources link on the right the student friendly graph/picture/video are there). Do Parts 4 and 5.
  2. Ask students to summarize their understanding in a concept map or Frayer Model (see SEI Strategy)

Possible extension: Show this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iywhGuSDuG (first 5 min)

Homework: Students read this article: https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/03/12/child-soldiers-worldwide, label the countries listed and turn each statement into 1-3 facts.

Note: There is far more in the Red Cross Resource than can be taught in one class period. Chose the parts of the Module that best achieve the objective:

  • Define child soldiers
  • List the challenges that they face
  • Explain why child soldiers is a global issue